Profile for Robert A. Russell

Professional background

A native of Rolla, Rob earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Geography from the University of Missouri-Columbia; a Master of Science (MS) in Geography from the University of Alabama; and a PhD in Geography from the University of Iowa in 2009. A broadly trained human geographer, his dissertation research focused on the political and cultural geographies of alternative country music.

Prior to joining MU Extension, Rob worked for unions in Iowa and Wisconsin where he had the opportunity to organize and represent public employees at all levels of government. He also was a research assistant at the University of Iowa Labor Center and taught courses on Political Geography at the University of Iowa.

Rob has a variety of teaching and research interests, including workplace representation; collective bargaining; leadership development; labor communications; globalization and labor; and labor geographies. He is a member of the United Association for Labor Education (UALE) and AFT-Missouri and serves as a board member for the Labor and Employment Relations Association – Gateway Chapter.